Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 22:31:59 -0500
From: TgrPaw@gmail.com
Subject: can-you-spare-a-quarter - 12

========================
Can You Spare a Quarter?
========================

Dedicated to "D":

   We didn't meet this way, it probably wouldn't have been anything like
   this if we had met this way, but if we had, I hope it might have been
   something like this.   {{{{ hugs }}}}

Disclaimer:

   Names of people, places, companies, and so forth are completely
   fictional.  While this story draws inspiration from real events which
   involved real people, it is nonetheless a complete work of fiction.

Copyright:

   2002; All rights reserved.

Comments:

   Email can be sent to TgrPaw@gmail.com

   Flames, hate mail, and similar things will be ignored.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

12. If You Love Something, Set it Free

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was a few days before Jamie's ankle was sufficiently recovered to
travel.  During that time Graham had completed the arrangements for them
to go back to the city and meet with Matty at the Child Protection Branch.
Graham had also made arrangements for his lawyer to attend with him.
It was not strictly necessary to do this and the expense wouldn't be
something Graham was going to enjoy, but Graham felt that ensuring that
every possible means of protecting Jamie were brought to bear was of
the utmost importance.

Jamie had related to Graham how he'd tried before to convince the social
workers that things were not right at home.  However in the face of a
smiling father and Jamie's spotty official record his complaints had
always been rebuffed with terrible retribution each time Jamie had been
taken back home.  Graham wanted no chance of any repetition this time.
Additionally, Matty had indicated that because of Graham's age and the
fact that he was gay, supporting statements as to his character would
be very helpful.  While times were changing and being gay or unmarried
were no longer official barriers to fostering or adopting a child, it
was still all too easy for a malicious person to make things look bad.
After talking with Jamie and Frank, the group decision was that Frank
would come along.  In addition to being able to make the case for Graham
stronger by appearing in person, Jamie would feel more comfortable with
an extra friend and familiar face present.

Finally the big day arrived and Graham drove himself, Jamie, and Cindy
back to the dock where Dave's plane was moored.  As they parked up on
the hill they saw that Jason, Frank, and Kathy had arrived before them
and were waiting.  As Graham and Jamie climbed out of the jeep, Jason
ran up to greet them.

"Hi Jamie, Cindy, Mr. H.," Jason called out as he slowed to a stop next
to them.

"Good morning Jason," said Graham as he pulled the driver's seat forward
to gain access to the suitcase sitting behind it.

"Hey Jay!" said Jamie while Cindy greeted Jason enthusiastically.

Graham sensed that Jason wanted to talk to Jamie alone and quickly
finished getting the bag out of the jeep and walked down towards the
dock where Frank and Kathy were patiently waiting.

"Morning Frank, Kathy," said Graham as he approached.

"Today's the big day," replied Frank.

"I hope it goes well for you," added Kathy.

"So do I," said Graham in reply.  "I'm a nervous wreck."

"Don't worry," said Frank.  "Nothing will go wrong, and I'm coming
along to say all the right things about you for the bureaucrats.  Not to
mention that we've got signed letters from everyone on the island Kathy
could think of on top of that."

"I know, it's just that I'm worried something will go wrong," replied
Graham.  "I don't want anything to go wrong and Jamie to get hurt again."

"It's going to be fine you'll see," said Kathy giving a somewhat
embarrassed Graham a hug.

                               *** *** *** ***

"You be careful when you're in town," Jason said to Jamie.

"Don't worry I'm always careful in the city," replied Jamie as he noticed
Jason's concerned look.  "Is something wrong?"

"I had a bad dream last night about you, and I'm worried," Jason said
hesitantly.  "I just want you to be extra careful.  You're my friend and
I want you to come back so we can go fishing and do other stuff together."

Jamie found himself in the strange position of trying to reassure his
friend despite the fact that he was scheduled to meet with the social
workers later that same day.  The prospect of the meeting did not
exactly fill him with positive feelings.  To date, such meetings had
always been the prelude to being sent home and that knowledge sent a
shiver down his back.

Graham and Frank were heading down towards the boys and so Jason suddenly
put his arms around his new friend and gave him a quick hug.

"You come back," said Jason with emphasis.

"Everything will be ok - you'll see," replied Jamie with a smile.

Jason smiled and waved as his father, Jamie, and Graham walked down
towards the seaplane but he felt a lump in the pit of his stomach that
ate at him and it wouldn't go away.  Soon he couldn't stand it any longer
and turned to walk back up towards his where his mother was standing.

The plane began to taxi out onto the water and pick up speed.  Just as it
lifted into the air, Jason saw Pony coming out of the woods at a semi-run.
Looking around for a brief moment and then spotting Jason, Pony came up
to him quickly.

"Have they gone?" he asked anxiously.

"Yes, the plane just left," replied Jason.  "What's wrong?"

Pony's usually stoic face fell as he heard Jason's words.

"What is it, what is it?" asked Jason anxiously seeing Pony's reaction.
"What's happened?"

"I had a vision last night," said Pony simply.

"You know something, what do you know?" asked a worried Jason.

"It is going to be a long day for Jamie," said Pony who refused to say
anything more but stood strong and put his arms around Jason as they
watched the plane head out of sight.

                               *** *** *** ***

Meeting his lawyer just outside the Child Protection Services office,
Graham led everyone inside and announced their arrival to the
receptionist.

"Yes, I'm Graham Holt and we have an appointment with Madeline Thompson
for 2 p.m.," said Graham.  "Would you please let her know that we're
here?"

"Have a seat and I'll let her know that you've arrived," replied the
receptionist.  Who upon noticing Cindy then added, "You'll have to take
that dog outside, we don't allow them in here."

Graham went back to where everyone had sat down and said quietly to his
lawyer, "What am I going to do?  The receptionist says Cindy can't stay,
but I promised Jamie that she'd be able to stay with him.  I can't break
my promise to him."

"Don't worry about it I came prepared," the lawyer said as he reached
into his suit jacket and pulled out what looked like a folded-up piece
of cloth.  "Put this on Cindy and I'll take care of the rest."

Graham unfolded the piece of cloth while the lawyer went up to the
receptionist.  As Graham unfolded it, he could see it was a 'jacket' for
a dog with the 'Paws For a Cause' logo on it.  He smiled as he quickly
fastened it around Cindy with the ties that were attached to the end
of it while listening to the protestations of the receptionist being
demolished.  There were few things in this life worth $500 an hour in
Graham's opinion, but this might be one of them he thought as he looked
in Jamie's direction.  When he saw Jamie's look of panic change into a
smile, he knew for certain that it was.

"Hello, I'm Madeline Thompson.  Please call me Matty," announced a voice
behind Graham.

Graham stood up and shook the hand offered by a tall heavy-set woman
with dark hair and brown eyes.

"Allow me to introduce my next door neighbour Frank Freeland," began
Graham. "My lawyer Brian Fitzpatrick, and of course ...".

"You must be Jamie," said Matty completing the sentence as she smiled
and knelt down in front of Jamie.

"Yes ma'am," replied Jamie very quietly as he held Cindy close in front
of him and refused to look up.

"Who's your friend here?" asked Matty.

"Cindy," said Jamie softly.

"Hello Cindy," said Matty cheerfully.

Cindy who normally loved meeting new people, took her cue from Jamie.
Both Graham and Frank were surprised when they saw the fur on the back
of her neck rise while she remained perfectly motionless and looked
straight at Matty with cold eyes.

"Well, why don't we all go into my office and we can take care of this
as quickly as possible," suggested Matty.

After everyone sat down and the door was closed Matty started by saying,
"I've reviewed the case history on Jamie, I've also talked with Mr. Holt,
and there are only two main items we really need to worry about.
The first of these is Mr. Holt's fitness to be considered as a guardian
for Jamie."

"In that regard," said Brian reaching into his briefcase, "we have
here depositions from a number of the members of Mr. Holt's community,
twenty-seven to be precise.  Additionally Mr. Freeland, Mr. Holt's
neighbour and a parent in his own right, is attending this meeting at
his own expense to appear as an additional character witness."

"Twenty-seven depositions?" asked Matty a bit taken aback.

"My wife is rather industrious," said Frank with a grin.  "Particularly
when it comes to this young man here."

"From the preliminary information Mr. Holt gave me I knew that that
really wouldn't be an issue," continued Matty.  "However, I do have to
make sure that we follow all the required procedures so that there is
no chance of a problem.  That then leads to the second and bigger issue.
The matter of Jamie and a complaint against his father."

"I think we can make fairly short work of that," said Graham while nodding
to Jamie.  "It's a bit embarrassing, but if you'll just look at this ..."

At that moment Jamie stood up, turned his back towards Matty and pulled
his shirt up exposing his back.

"Bear in mind," continued Graham as Jamie remained motionless for a
moment and then lowered his shirt and sat back down, "that Jamie has
been with me for a couple of months now and his back is fully healed.
Those scars are forever - the result of I don't know how many beatings."

Matty's face was white as she briefly stuttered before collecting herself,
"I ... I ... I'm so sorry Jamie.  I want you to know that I believe
everything that your ... Mr. Holt ... Graham has told me.  You understand
though that I have to ask you a few questions for the official records."

"Yes ma'am," said Jamie in a whisper.

"Mr. Holt," said Matty once again with her professional voice restored.
"I know it's not really necessary in this case, but regulations require
that I ask you and Mr. Freeland to leave the room for a moment while I
ask Jamie these questions."

"We understand," said Graham as he and Frank rose.  Seeing the look
on Jamie's face he added to Jamie, "We'll be just outside the door.
My lawyer and Cindy will stay right here with you.  It'll only be for
a couple of minutes.  You'll be fine."

Graham and Frank went out into the hallway and closed the door behind
them.  A few minutes went by and Frank was called back in.  Then a
few minutes later Graham was called in again and he sat back down next
to Jamie.

"OK," began Matty in official tones, "I now have a sworn complaint in
my possession which I will be delivering to the Crown prosecutor for
action as soon as we wrap up this meeting.  I also have in my possession
a request for temporary guardianship for Jamie by Graham Holt, which I
will have approved by tomorrow morning.  Once a preliminary hearing has
been completed on the complaint, the request for guardianship will be
made permanent pending the final outcome of any and all court action.
You will have to come in tomorrow morning to pick up the temporary
authorization paperwork, but that should only take a few minutes."

"So, where does that leave us now then?" asked Graham.

"I'll come in and take care of the details for you tomorrow," said Brian.
"Then I can check everything is in order and there are no complications."

"Yes," agreed Matty.  "All you have to do now is wait for that paperwork
and then the current somewhat informal arrangement will be made official."

"Thank you very much," said Graham as he rose to shake Matty's hand.
"I really appreciate what you've done for us."

"I know it hasn't been a fun day today Jamie," said Matty.  "But I'm
going to do my best to make sure this is the last time you have to worry
about things the way you have."

"I hope so," said a still somewhat dubious Jamie.

As they all filed out of the office Brian pulled Graham to one side to
speak to him.

"I don't know quite how to say this," began Brian.  "I just want you to
know that you won't be seeing a bill for this."

"You don't need to do that," replied a surprised Graham.

"I thought ... well never mind what I thought.  When you said Jamie'd
been abused, I never dreamt it was remotely in that kind of league,"
said Brian.  "His back ... I mean, I've never seen anything like that."

"It's really very kind of you," said Graham.

"Well, I'm not always a money grabbing ambulance chaser you know," laughed
Brian.  "But don't you dare let anyone know it'd ruin my reputation."

"Your secret is safe with me," replied Graham.  "Anyone asks, I'll tell
them your heart is as black as they come."

Brian waved good-bye and Graham, Frank, Jamie, and Cindy went down into
the parking garage beneath the office building and squeezed into Graham's
tiny car.  Once they had navigated their way out and on the street,
Graham turned a corner and they headed back towards the apartment.

                               *** *** *** ***

"So, would you like to go out and do something?" asked Graham once they
were back in the small apartment and sitting down.  "We could go look
around a mall, or maybe find something else to do.  We can't go back to
the island until after tomorrow when we pick up the papers."

"I need to go out and get some stuff I've got hidden away," said Jamie.

"Oh sure, we can do that," replied Graham.

"No, I have to do this alone," said Jamie carefully.

"You don't want me, to come?" asked Graham clearly taken aback.

"No, it's something I have to do," said Jamie.  "It's nothing personal.
I just have to do it alone, it won't be safe otherwise.  It's just some
things I have in a backpack that I've got hidden.  But I really need them,
it's everything I've got and I don't want to loose them."

"I can get you anything you need," offered Graham.

"No," said Jamie firmly as he stood up.  "I have to do this.  This'll be
my only chance after today."

While Jamie went and found his coat and put his shoes on, Frank motioned
Graham to one side.

"I don't know what it is that he's after exactly, but you have to let
him do this," said Frank.  "He needs a bit of time to think and make his
final decision.  If he comes back then you know he wants to go through
with it.  Also he probably does have a few things tucked away that he
needs to get.  I think you have to trust him on this."

"You're right I suppose," said Graham reluctantly.  "It doesn't mean I
have to like it though."

"Everything will be OK," replied Frank.  "You'll see.  This is one of
those moments of parental trust, you'll get used to them in time."

"I'm ready to go," announced Jamie as he walked back towards the two men.

Graham looked at Jamie and said, "Please come back soon."

"Don't worry," replied Jamie.  "It won't be long, my stuff's not far
from here."

"I'll be waiting for you too," said Frank as he smiled and held out his
hand to Jamie.

Jamie shook Frank's hand and when Graham extended his also, Jamie ignored
it and hugged a very surprised Graham.  Gently wrapping his arms around
Jamie, Graham felt his eyes begin to tear up.  Jamie didn't look at
Graham as they hugged, and Graham feared in his soul that this might be a
'good-bye' hug.

Jamie then knelt and gave Cindy a big hug and whispered some things into
her ear while Cindy licked at the boy's cheek.  Graham couldn't hear
what was said, but he could see Jamie's eyes were filling up as well.
After a few moments Jamie let go of Cindy and turned towards the door.

Jamie quickly looked back at everyone and around the small apartment
for a moment and then saying, "See you later" headed out the door.

Graham stood motionless for a minute looking out the open door and then
closed it.  Starring at the back of the closed door Graham wondered if
he would ever see Jamie again.

                               *** *** *** ***

Graham looked at his watch for the tenth time in as many minutes as he
continued to pace back and forth.  Cindy laid on the floor unmoving with
her head between her paws, her eyes locked on the closed front door.
Frank continued to pretend he was reading an article in a magazine while
trying to ignore Graham's constant pacing.

"Here why don't you have another one of these," said Frank while offering
the candy dish to Graham again.  "Wearing a hole in the rug and giving
yourself an ulcer isn't going to help matters."

Graham took a candy, unwrapped it, and began to suck on it noisily.
"He said he'd be right back - it's been hours.  What am I going to do?
Something's happened to him I know it."

"Don't jump to conclusions," said Frank evenly.  "There's nothing you can
do, there's nothing any of us can do.  We've done everything there is
to be done.  Jamie has to make this decision himself.  You've provided
him with the opportunity, he's seen you in action at home, and he knows
pretty much what it'd be like to live there with you.  Nonetheless, he
has to make the decision himself to come back and walk through that door.
None of us can do it for him, as much as we might like to."

"But what if he doesn't come back?" ask Graham shakily.

"If he doesn't come back, he doesn't come back." said Frank.  "You can't
force yourself on the boy or make him want to be with you.  If it's meant
to be it will happen.  He probably just needed to walk around some and
think things through.  I'm sure I would if I were him.  Remember this is
probably the biggest decision he's ever had to make except for running
away in the first place.  Besides you don't know boys as much as you
might think.  Remember I have one, there are times when Jason completely
looses all track of time; a few hours is nothing."

"Yes, yes, you're right," grumbled Graham.  "It's just that it's driving
me crazy."

"Why don't we stir something up in the kitchen?" suggested Frank.
"It'll get your mind off things and you could do with something to eat."

"How can you even think of food at a time like this?" exclaimed Graham.
"Jamie's out there who knows where, and you're thinking about your
stomach!"

With great patience Frank replied, "It will give you something to do
and you need that right now."

"I can't think about eating or food, not right now," snapped Graham.

Frank was about to comment when he suddenly motioned for quiet, "Did
you hear that?"

"Hear what?" asked Graham skeptically though noticing Cindy's ears had
perked up.

"It almost sounded like something scraping on wood," said Frank with a
strange look in his eyes.  "There it is again!"

Frank and Graham looked at each other and just as they were about to
say something, they both heard it again.  This time it could be clearly
made out as a knock on a door, very faint and trailing off quickly.
Cindy began to whine and slowly began to crawl towards the door.
Graham's complexion suddenly changed and he looked as white as a sheet.
Frank's blood ran cold and they both ran for the door.

Reaching the door Graham threw it open, looked into the hallway and then
down, and exclaimed, "Jamie!".

[to be continued]